Imagination

I have a big imagination. My dad says it’s my best feature, but my mom says it’s my downfall. I think it’s somewhere in the middle. I was sitting in World Geography one day learning about Timbuktu when I looked over at him. He has gorgeous blue eyes and perfectly tanned skin. But it’s not the gross Jersey-Shore-fake-bake-kind-of tan, it’s the perfect Texas-summer-heat-kind-of tan. And his eyes, ohhhh did I mention his eyes? They’re as blue as the Gulf of Mexico. Actually, is the Gulf of Mexico even that blue? I wouldn’t know, I’ve never been there, I was just trying to stay with the Texas theme. The homecoming dance is coming up, I wonder if he’ll ask me. But then again, why would he ask me? I’ve never actually talked to him before, but yet, I feel like I know him. I know he loves the green sour skittles and he plays guitar when he’s feeling down. I know he falls easily for girls and he falls hard, but he is never the one to get his heart broken. And I know he’s perfect for me.

I wonder how he would ask me. I bet he would probably come up to my locker one day after class.

“Hey Beth!” He would say nervously. Gah, I hate that name. It’s just so average. The minute I turn 18, I’m changing it. Maybe something exotic like Eden or Nadia. Or maybe Bianca.

“Oh hey, Max,” I would reply completely in control of the situation.

“Sooo, are you doing anything the 25th?”

“Mmm, I don’t know, I’m not much of a planner. Why?”

“Well, I was wondering if you would like to go to the homecoming dance with me, I mean it’s totally fine if you can’t, you probably have had TONS of boys I ask you, so no pressure…” He’s so cute when he’s nervous.

“I mean yeah, that would be cool, I could do that.” Coy is the way to go? Right? But, no. that would never happen. He’s just too perfect to ask a girl who doesn’t like to wear matching clothes and bites her nails when she’s nervous. A girl like me. It would never happen.

We both walk home from school since we both live near it. I see him walking in front of me. I wonder what he’s thinking about. Is he as aware of me as I am of him? Does he pay attention to his surroundings? Does he bask in the glory of nature? The beautiful daisies planted in a neighbors yard, a squirrel carrying a acorn up a huge oak tree, the sky as blue as his eyes? Or does he just walk aimlessly with his iPod tucked in his pocket while he listens to his acoustic music? What if he was thinking of me? I mean, he’s not, but what if he was? Or he could be. He could be wondering why this creep follows him home everyday. But, maybe, just maybe, he’s thinking about me, the real me. Maybe he thinks I’m pretty. Or maybe he actually likes girls who don’t wear a lot of makeup and only paint their nails on one hand because they can’t do squat with their left hand. Girls like me. Doubt it. But he could.

Sometimes going to a big school stinks, you know why? When you trip in the hallways and your unzipped backpack spews your stuff everywhere, everyone sees. Including him. Why didn’t he help me? I just sat there like an idiot for a second while my brain reeled trying to think of what to do.

“Hey, here’s your notebook, I think you dropped it,” He could say.

“Oh, thanks!” I would say while simultaneously giggling nervously.

“The Office, huh? Great show,” He could say, making conversation.

“Oh yeah, it’s one of my favorites.”

“Good choice.” See, was that hard? No, it wasn’t. But obviously too hard for him. Instead, I’ll just pick up my stuff before everyone tramples on it as the bell rings.

As it gets closer to homecoming, my imagination gets wilder and wilder as I imagine scenarios that will never happen. This is getting out of hand. I’m just going to forget him and his gorgeous eyes and his jeans that hug him in all the right places. Starting now. Oh wait, is he looking at me? Oh no, never mind, I think the clock is behind me. Shoot. Okay starting n-- no no no he’s starring at me. He has to be. Should I smile at him? Do I have something in my teeth? I think I should smile. But what if he isn’t looking at me, then it would be super awkward. Oh oh oh! He’s getting up! Is he walking toward me? Okay I should smile now, right? Aaaannd he’s walking past me. Cool. Yeah, just go sit with Heather, no big deal. I don’t love you or anything.

Homecoming night. What am I doing? Sitting on my couch in my huge sweats and hair piled up on top of my head watching Season 3 of The Office. I just couldn’t go to homecoming knowing I would see him with another girl. My friends said they would keep me updated, but no word yet. I get up as I hear the doorbell ring, knowing it’s the pizza that I ordered 45 minutes ago. I open the door while contemplating if I should complain about it not being in 30 minutes so I could get it free.

“Hey, someone order a pizza?” Max.

“Uh, umm, yesssss, I did. Ha.” Smooth.

“Hey, Beth, right?” He asked. What?!

“Um, yes! Max, right?” Like I didn’t know.

“Correct! Haha Well, here’s your pizza.”

“Thanks!” Hands, stop shaking!

“Well Beth, why didn’t you go to the homecoming dance?” Because you didn’t ask me.

“Well, you know, I already had plans…” I lied. Yeah, obviously, I have plans.

“You?” I asked, trying to shy away from my own pathetic life.

“I had to work,” He replied.

“Oh, well that makes sense,” I said giggling timidly.

“Yeah, but this is my last stop.” What? Is he hinting at something?

“Oooh, Oh! Would you like to come in? I have a large pineapple pizza that I can’t eat by myself.”

“Sounds perfect,” He replied smiling. Wait, what?! Is this real? As I led him inside, my heart was pounding a million times a minute.

“The Office, huh? Good choice,” He commented. Perfection.

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